We serve community members interested in being a part of the entrepreneurial community focused on startups, technology and innovation, along with those interested in learning about it. We believe that in order to have a healthy entrepreneurial community, we need a healthy ecosystem of connected resources. This community consists of entrepreneurs, investors, government, universities, students, service providers, large corporations, etc. These participants, working together with shared passion, are vital to the success of an entrepreneurial community.

Why we build Emerging Prairie

Our goal is to accelerate the growth and development of our communities so the region can create, attract and grow the businesses today that will create its tomorrow. Emerging Prairie is a resource that provides:

A platform to share knowledge, success and experiences

The pulse of the region’s entrepreneurial activity

A network of passionate individuals shaping the region’s future

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DR. WILLIAM ADERHOLDT

Director of Grand Farm

William Aderholdt is a lifelong learner looking to take on challenges and engage with the community.  As the Grand Farm Program Manager, he works to establish relationships with government and institutions of higher education, assists with the development of the Grand Farm Initiative, and identifies and applies for grant funding opportunities.  He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy from Montana State University, having studied and researched education, rural community, civil rights policy, and human out-migration in rural communities. Prior to his current role, William established diversity and inclusion programs and investigated civil rights discrimination. He enjoys spending time talking about the future of our communities and how technology will change the world.

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UJJWAL ADHIKARI

Grand Farm Project Coordinator

Ujjwal was born in Nepal but grew up in the Fargo Area. He is a passionate software developer by trade and loves to learn new skills. His favorite hobby as of late has been finding different flavors to put in his coffee. In his free time, he loves going for walks or simply just staying in and watching a movie.

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GRETA ALMLIE

Marketing & Communications Intern

Greta is a Fargo-Moorhead native studying Business Management, Marketing & Communication Studies at Concordia College. She is involved in many organizations across Concordia's campus, as she seeks to make new connections and help other students get involved. Greta is a creative thinker who is passionate about the growth of the FM community. In her free time, you can find her at events in the FM area, drinking coffee at local coffee shops, planning game nights, or hanging out with her friends!

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BRAXTEN BASTIAN

Grand Farm Startup Coordinator Intern

Braxton is an Oregonian who came here to study Agricultural Economics. He serves as the Vice President of Operations for the Investment Fund here at NDSU. Outside of school, his passions are hunting, fishing, watching football, and cooking.

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DR. RUCHI JOSHI BHARDWAJ

Senior Program Manager of Education & Research

Ruchi hails from India (7,203 miles from Fargo); however, she has been a loyal FM community member for the past 12 years since she first came to Fargo to pursue her Bachelors degree in Biotechnology at NDSU. She earned her Masters in Environmental Sciences while working with Native American students at 5 different reservations located within ND. In her free time, she can be found at her home relaxing with her pets - 3 dogs, 1 parrot, 1 ferret, 2 turtles and 12 goldfish.

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BAILEY BLOCK

Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Bailey Block is a Minot, North Dakota native who came to Fargo in 2019 to attend college at North Dakota State University. She graduated in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communication and a minor in Entrepreneurship. Bailey loves all things creative and is specifically passionate about photography, fashion, short form video, writing, and social media curation. In her free time, you can find her going to hot yoga at Indigo Bloom, taking photos/videos, being active outdoors, watching the latest episode of the Bachelor, or going out to eat in Downtown Fargo with family and friends!

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BLAINE BOOHER

Program Director of Emerging Digital Academy

Blaine Booher is a software engineer who has a passion for community, education, and technology. As the Program Director for Emerging Digital Academy he is excited about the potential impact that EDA will have on the region and the lives of our students. Blaine has been building web-connected software projects for 20 years, including the last 10 years where he ran a technology consultancy that built custom solutions for startups and small businesses. Blaine lives in Fargo with his wife, son, two cats, and too many bicycles. He enjoys fermenting everything and can often be seen riding his bike on rural gravel roads while eating homemade sourdough bread.

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THAIS BORUD

Accounting Intern

Thais is a Minot native who came to Fargo to attend NDSU in 2020 where she is currently double majoring in Finance and Global Business with a double minor in Spanish and banking. At NDSU, Thais is part of many clubs and organizations where she is creating connections. In her free time, she likes to go to the gym, spend time with family and friends, and travel to different countries!

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SYDNEY BRUSSEAU

Events Manager

Sydney is a Fargo native who graduated from Concordia College with a degree in Communications and Spanish and a minor in Business. Sydney is passionate about helping others reach their goals and is excited to continue to help the Fargo/Moorhead community grow and thrive. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family at the lake and trying out new coffee shops with friends.

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KATIE BURINGTON

Student Life & Recruitment Manager

Katie grew up in Marshall, MN and made her way to Fargo-Moorhead to attend Concordia College, where she graduated in 2011 with degrees in Psychology and Social Work.  Katie is passionate about coaching people on their strengths to help them accomplish their goals.  In her free time she enjoys running, gardening, and playing board games.  She lives in West Fargo with her husband and two energetic kiddos.

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LIZ CAMPBELL

Director of Experiences & Events

Liz Campbell is a connector of people, always wanting to know what makes them tick and how she can help them succeed. Having worked in higher education at both NDSU and Concordia College after graduating from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Minnesota State University, Mankato, Liz thrives on empowering students to discover who they are, what drives them, and bringing that to their everyday lives. Liz was selected for the 2020 “35 Under 35 Women’s Leadership Program”, an enthusiastic believer of personal development and growth, and can often be found in the front row at concerts, catching up with friends at local breweries and coffee shops, or wandering around Downtown Fargo. She calls Fargo home, where she lives with her husband, Scott, and their adventurous corgi, Toby.

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BRIAN CARROLL

Chief Innovation Officer,
Grand Farm Co-Founder

Brian is results-driven leader with extensive experience and success in driving strategic and operational excellence.  Brian spent 8 years as the Site Leader and Director of Advanced Engineering and Launch (AEL) at HERE Technologies and loves helping people plan, optimize, and launch new initiatives. He spent much of his career building high-performing teams in the location content industry, gaining experience in building operations in India, Mexico and Europe. While operations and project management are his primary job functions by day, Brian also enjoys spending time with his family and traveling to interesting places.

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ANTONIO FRANKLIN

Revenue Manager

Antonio has worked in economic development at county and regional level for over five years. He focused on equitable economic development and wealth-building initiatives. He has been instrumental in creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem for the indigenous community in the Headwaters region. He has a background working in the public and private-sector. He held positions as Executive Director of the Thief River Falls Chamber of Commerce and Project Manager of the Lac Qui Parle County Economic Development Authority. He has served as board of directors for BI-CAP Bemidji-Cass Lake, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, and Minnesota Housing Partnership.

He attended University of Minnesota, Morris and studied Political Science. He was a student mentor for the Native American Student Success Program. He also interned as Project Manager for Lac Qui Parle County EDA. He has received economic development training through the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) and through the International Economic Development Council. In 2018, he completed the Blandin Leadership Program, which is designed to help sustain community by building on community strengths.

He has a passion working with entrepreneurs and businesses in multi-dimensional ways to help them succeed. He also enjoys being active in the community. In his free time, he loves spending time with family, traveling and exploring new foods.

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ANDREW JASON

Grand Farm Ecosystem Director

Andrew's entire professional career has been born out of a love of Fargo. During his almost nine years at Spotlight, Andrew worked his way up from unpaid intern to Editorial Director where he oversaw a team of a dozen talented staff in telling the story of Fargo-Moorhead's growth. During those formative professional years, Andrew discovered the work that Emerging Prairie is doing. He is excited about the opportunity to continue growing Fargo into being nationally recognized for its entrepreneurial ecosystem. In his free time, you can find him hiking with his wife and dog, enjoying a beer at the breweries, playing piano or counting down the days until his next trip. 
 
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CHRISTOPHER KORINEK

Grand Farm Project Intern

Christopher grew up on a small farm south of Breckenridge Minnesota. After high school, he moved to Fargo and attended Minnesota State University Moorhead where he graduated in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in project management. In his free time, Christopher can be found watching baseball, looking at classic cars, or relaxing with friends and family.
 
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NATALIE LEMNUS

Sales Intern

Natalie is a Valley City native now studying Finance and Marketing at NDSU. She is involved in many different organizations across NDSU and strives to make it a place where everyone feels welcome. Natalie knew she always had a passion for business through innovation and connectivity. She is an adventurous soul who loves to travel, hike, snowboard, and seek some thrill. You can find her in her hammock reading a book or on a walk with dogs!

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MASON LEONHART

Student & Technical Support Specialist

Mason is an alumnus of Emerging Digital Academy, part of the Conway cohort that graduated in April of 2021. Very soon after, he worked at an amazing startup, Stax, where he developed an iOS application written in React Native. Mason is now enjoying his work days by offering mentorship and education as a Teaching Assistant for EDA.

Outside of tech, Mason has big passions for fitness, strategy games, history, and reading. He loves to learn anything and everything, new topics, new sciences, new languages, and loves to chase that "ahah" feeling that comes with the understanding of new knowledge.

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HALEY LEWIS

Accounting Manager

Haley is from Iroquois, South Dakota and graduated from South Dakota State University with an Agricultural Business degree. She then moved to Fargo and she obtained her Master’s in Accounting online through Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. In her free time, she can be found helping out on the family farm, hosting game nights with her friends, or spoiling her two dogs, Remi and Wesson.

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JOHN MANN

Grand Farm Program Manager

John Mann is an inquisitive learner with a keen interest in the intersection of technology and biology. He is dedicated to constructing an ecosystem that fosters value for startups, investors, and accelerators in agriculture and adjacent sectors. Outside of his professional endeavors, John indulges his curious spirit by engaging in a variety of activities. He can often be found hiking, rollerblading, camping, gaming, or enjoying a good episode of "Psych!" In addition to these hobbies, John shares his home with two little boy cats who provide endless entertainment and frustration.

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NATHAN MARCOTTE

Grand Farm Senior Program Manager of Innovation Technology

Nathan is a graduate of North Dakota State University with a degree in computer science and a minor in entrepreneurship. While at NDSU he co-founded Pathway Ventures, a student-run venture capital fund. He has always had an interest in technology and now combines that with business and entrepreneurship. In his free time, you can find Nathan enjoying the outdoors and a good cup of coffee!

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TRACY MECKLER

Grand Farm Business Development Manager

Tracy, a farm-raised native of Plummer, MN is a dynamic professional with a degree in Communications, specializing in Advertising/Public Relations and Apparel & Design, from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. Recognized as a natural connector, Tracy has transformed her passion for building relationships into a successful career. She has served as the President of the American Advertising Federation of North Dakota, graduated from the FMWF Leadership Class, United Way of Cass Clay's 35 under 35 Leadership Class and received a nomination for YWCA Woman of the Year.

In her downtime, Tracy relishes family time at the lake, strolls with her Chihuahua, Chimichanga, and cozy evenings with her cat, Morris, while enjoying Lifetime movies. Celebrating a decade of marriage with her husband, Brian, in September, Tracy's interests include fashion, being an avid Barbie collector and watching "Friends" reruns.

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LISA MISTIC

Grants Manager

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LLOYD NELSON

Chief Financial Officer

Lloyd brings a wealth of experience across a number of industries and functions to Emerging Prairie and Grand Farm as their Chief Financial Officer. Lloyd has an MBA from North Dakota State University and an undergraduate degree in Economics. With a passion for technology and agriculture, Lloyd looks forward to helping Emerging Prairie and Grand Farm develop and expand their initiatives including leading the innovation facility project team. Lloyd lives on a farm just outside of Pelican Rapids and enjoys spending time with his family and hiking the many trails in Maplewood State Park.

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ANN NOBRIGA

Grand Farm Senior Program Manager of Field Operations

Ann is a project management professional with a background in and passion for plant sciences. Her career has spanned from on-the-ground vegetation management and assisting biological research projects with government agencies and universities to coordinating software development projects and managing biologics manufacturing projects with stakeholders across the globe. Ann loves rural life with her husband by a small Minnesota lake where she gardens, dotes on her backyard chickens and house cat, and enjoys all the wild flora and fauna the area has to offer.

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ASHLYN SCHAUER

Marketing & Communications Specialist

Ashlyn is a Jamestown, North Dakota native currently studying Strategic Communication at NDSU. She is involved in a variety of different organizations across NDSU and loves being active in the FM area. Ashlyn is passionate about community engagement and public relations especially when it comes to the Fargo/Moorhead community. In her free time she enjoys playing hockey, traveling, grabbing coffee downtown, and relaxing with friends.

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SADIE SCHAEFFER

Senior Startup Programs Coordinator

Sadie studied communications and nutrition at Concordia College. Sadie has an organizational mindset and loves to help others pursue their passion and goals. In her free time, Sadie enjoys spending time with her family at the lake, walking her dog, cooking & baking and coaching at Orangetheory and F45.

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MADISON SIMPSON

Marketing & Communications Manager

Madi has lived in Fargo most of her life and lives the downtown Fargo dream. She went to M State and received her Liberal Arts degree, and later started her own sustainable upcycled clothing business in 2018. In her free time, Madi can be found hanging out with her mini poodle Georgie, doing puzzles, or enjoying an iced vanilla latte from one of the downtown cafes!

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MADISON STONE

Experiences & Events Coordinator

Madi has spent a good portion of her adult life away from the Fargo community which helped her grow a fondness for it that she never knew possible. After graduating from the University of St. Thomas-St. Paul in 2019, she took 2 years to travel nationally and internationally as a Christian Missionary. Upon her arrival back home she worked a variety of jobs in the Downtown Fargo area which introduced her to the thriving community of Emerging Prairie, then sparking a desire to join the team. Madi deeply enjoys time outdoors exploring nature and going on adventures with her husband, Andrew. These two will often be seen at Twenty Below Coffee, taking photos around town, or talking to strangers.

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GREG TEHVEN

Chief Executive Officer & Co-founder
Board Member

The CEO and Co-Founder of Emerging Prairie, Greg is a social entrepreneur and connector of people across the midwest. Learn more on LinkedIn.

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STETSON URLACHER

Grand Farm Grower Program Coordinator

Stetson is from the western edge of North Dakota in the small town of Regent, ND. He is now studying Agricultural Education and Animal Science at North Dakota State University, where he has found his home in the many clubs and organizations provided through the college of agriculture. He strives to include others in the intricate details of agriculture and spreading the word about what we do at Grand Farm. When not in class or at work you can find Stetson hanging out with friends, trying new coffee shops, or out with his cows on the prairie.

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MATT WENDEL

Director of Marketing & Communications

Matt is passionate about creating an ecosystem that advances innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship. A communications, marketing, and public affairs professional, he helps tell the story of Emerging Prairie and its partners. Prior to his current role, Matt led communications and public affairs for the Colorado Technology Association to support and advance the state’s tech ecosystem and previously held senior positions in the Speaker's Office of the Colorado House of Representatives where he worked on issues including economic development, agriculture, and technology. He is a North Dakota native and is a graduate of Concordia College. Matt lives in downtown Fargo with his wife Lynlee and enjoys being in the outdoors, traveling, and exploring the region.

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Our board members

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BYRON SNIDER

BOARD CHAIR

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KODEE FURST

BOARD VICE CHAIR

Kodee Furst is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Annie Capital, where she leads the firm's efforts in investing in the power of women entrepreneurs through funding, education and community development. She's spent the last decade of her career overseeing business development in multiple industries and has led growth activities across the United States. Her career and personal experiences are grounded in supporting women and solving big problems. In addition to Emerging Prairie, she currently serves on the Boards for North Dakota’s LIFT Fund and CTB and is a Founding Partner for North Dakota's Women's Entrepreneurship Week. After graduating from NDSU, she moved out of state and traveled across the country, but found her way back to North Dakota in 2015. She resides in Dickinson with her family.

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MIKE DERHEIM

BOARD SECRETARY

Mike Derheim is a lifelong entrepreneur. His entrepreneurial journey started at the age of 15 with his first company, and continued as he has co-founded and operated companies across a variety of industries. In 2003, Mike co-founded a digital consultancy called The Nerdery which went on to make Inc. Magazine's list of 5000 fastest-growing private companies in its first nine years of eligibility. 

In 2014, Mike co-founded Prime Digital Academy, a school for software engineers and UX designers. Prime has gone on to become part of The White House Tech Hire initiative. Mike made Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal 40 Under 40 list in 2012, was honored as a Minnesotan on the Move in 2012 by Minneapolis Finance & Commerce, and also named to Minnesota Business magazine The (Real) Power 50 list in 2013. 

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JONATHAN WARREY

BOARD TREASURER

A culture driven by performance and the ability to make a difference in the community led Jonathan Warrey to join Marco in 1996. Today, with his role in Sales Development, Jonathan combines his extensive sales and service experience to help drive Marco’s continued growth and impact.

Jonathan started as a sales representative, after graduating from University of North Dakota, and quickly earned leadership roles in sales management. He became Vice President of Sales in 2012 and was COO from 2014-2021.

An idealist at heart, he sees what can be and then enjoys bringing people together to achieve big outcomes. Over the years, Jonathan has been instrumental in helping shape Marco’s growth and creating a place where people love to come to work and do business. Inside Marco, he’s known for intentionally coming alongside team members to connect, support and provide coaching to help them grow and build careers. He brings a spirited laugh, sense of humor and calm, thoughtful demeanor to his work every day.

When he’s not at Marco, you can find him fully investing in his community and family. He’s particularly passionate about the Jeremiah Program, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing poverty two generations at a time, and the community of Casselton, North Dakota. He enjoys spending time at the lake, playing the drums, reading about history, watching all sports, and traveling with his wife and two adult children.

He has received a series of honors over the years, but his favorite remains the “World's Best Dad” Dwight Schrute statue given to him by his kids. They’re big fans of the show, The Office.

Education

Degree in marketing from University of North Dakota, 1996

Awards

  • University of North Dakota Young Alumni Achievement Award

  • Junior Achievement International Service Award

  • Heartland Technology Group Go-Giver Award

  • World's Best Dad Dwight Schrute statue given to him by his kids

Community Involvement

Marco Board Member, Casselton Park Board President, Board of Trustees for Jeremiah Program of Fargo-Moorhead, UND College of Business Advisory Council Member, Casselton Economic Development Committee.

Joined Marco

1996

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HOWARD DAHL

BOARD MEMBER

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BEC HEINRICH

BOARD MEMBER

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ANNUAL PARTNERS